Flood-gate



(No Model.)

J. MURPHY.

FLOOD GATE.

Patented July 17, 1888.

WITNESSES, [JV VEJVOR,

MQ lttorney TERSV Pholo-Limographer, Wasmngmn. D. C.

JOSEPH MURPHY, OF ALBANY, MISSOUR.

FLOOD-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 386,436, dated July 17, 1888.

Serial No. 267,145. (No model.)

To all wtom t may concern:

Be it known that l, Josnri-r MURPHY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Albany, in the county of Gentry and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in FloodGates, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention pertains to certain new and useful improvements in flood-gates, having lfor its object the provision of simple and highly efficient means for automatically effecting the unlatehing of the gate across the creek or stream when a desired amount of water is secured therein, so that said gate will swing around and come in contact with a latehingpost secured on the bank of said creek or stream; and also to provide means whereby when the gate is released from contact with said latter post said gate will immediately swing around to its normal position across the creek or stream.

To these ends the invention comprises the details of construction, combination, and arrangements of parts, substantially as hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are enlarged detail views thereof, and Fig. 4 is a View of a modification.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates a gate of any ordinary construction, the same being pivofally secured at its lower end-preferably upon a base-board, a-between two posts or nprights, B B, said gate having room to swing between said posts or uprighls, so as to describe an are of a circle. rllhe upperends of the posts or uprights B B are connected by an inclined bar, a, the inclination of which is caused by the post or upright B being longer than the other adjacent post. To the center of this inclined bar a is pivotally secured an approximately U -shaped plate, b, through which is passed a rope or wire, b2, extending on either side of the gate A and passed through an aperture iu the outer forward end of the lower bar thereof, so as to provide a support for the outer end of the gate, which, as shown, is normally held in an inclined position.

C C are two latching-posts provided each with shouldered hooks d el, one of said posts being disposed on either side of the creek or stream, the post C being directly opposite the posts or uprights B 3', while the post C is a short distance down the creek below said posts or uprights.

D D are two latch-levers pivotally secured between oppositely-disposed parallel bars d d', the upper latch-lever, D,being connected to the other lower latch-lever, D', by means of a wire loop or link, di, whereby said levers will move together.

E is a pocket or receptacle closed on its outer side and open from about its center to its upper end on its inner side, and to this pocket or receptacle is connected one end ot' a wire or rope, c, passed through a staple, e', and connectcd at its upper end to the inner extended end ofthe upper latch-lever, D, whereby upon depression of said pocket or receptacle the same will, through the agency of the wire or rope e, effect the elevation ofthe outer ends of the latch levers, consequently disengaging them, from contact with the shouldered hooks of the latchingpost C.

In practice the gate A is normally extended transversely across the creek or stream, and the latch-levers are in engagement with the latehing-post C. NVhen the water in the creek rises sufficiently to come in contact with the pocket or receptacle E, the force thereof will cause said pocket or receptacle to move outward from the gate, and thus by pulling on the rope c the said latch-levers will be disengaged from Contact with the post C, and by theforce of the stream against the gate A the same will be swung around at right angles to its former position and its latchlevers will engage the latehing-post C. During this movement the water that entered the pocket or receptacle E is permitted to escape through small apertures et formed in the bottom thereof, so that the lateh levers will be lowered and readily engage the hooks of the post C. \Vhen it is desired to release the gate from contact with the post C and to return the same to its normal position, upon loosening or disengaging the latelrlevers the gate will immediately swing back to its former position, by reason of its pivotal conneetion with t-he upper inclined bar connecting the two uprights BB', and upon reaching the post C the latch-levers will engage with the shouldered hooks thereof.

IOO

By means of my invention the gate will automatically open and swing out of the way, where it will be held until released; and it will be seen that my invention comprises but few parts, and that the same embodies advantages in points of simplicity, durability, and general efficiency.

'It is obvious that some changes can be made in the form of latoh-levers used in connection latch-levers connected together, the pocket or water-receptacle, and the wire or rope connected to one of said latch-levers and to said pocket or receptacle, substantially as shown and described.

3. The combination, with the two posts or upri-ghts and the gate pivotally secured between the same, of the two latching-posts dis posed equal distances from said posts or uprigbts, the latchlevers designed to engage said labelling-posts, and the pocket or receptacle connected to said latch-levers, substantiallyas shown and described.

4. The combination, with the gate and the latchlevers, of the pocket or receptacle open on one side and having a perforated bottom, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof l affix my signature in presencc'of two witnesses.

JOSEPH MURPHY.

fitn esses:

T. M. HUMPHRY,

O. P. STooKWELL. 

